Book Talk with Terry Newman

What inspired you to write this book?

The idea for Rewrites of the Heart came from the play I was in several years earlier, Jake’s Women, by Neil Simon. Jake’s a writer and throughout the play, he carries on conversations with a number of women in his life, only one of which is really present. The rest of the women appear to be real and he talks to them, but it’s all part of his imagination.

I wondered what it would be like if a writer’s characters became so real to an author, that they jump out of the pages of their story and interact with her. But then, I had to decide who could see them. Should the author be the only one that could speak with them? I thought it would be lots more fun (and cause more complications for JJ, our author) if everyone could see them.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I have a novella, The Wizard of her Heart, releasing July 3. It’s part of The Wild Rose Press series “Jelly Beans and Spring Things.” It stars Wyatt Ginn, who is a minor wizard who casts love spells over jelly beans. His new employee, Sydney Thomas, who has just gotten out of a dismal marriage and a bitter divorce, is certain he’s full of it. She knows that wizards are only found in books. I love my tag line: She’s certain he’s no wizard. He’s sure she’s pure magic.”

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Rewrites of the Heart?

JJ Spritely is a romance author who, several years before we meet her in her home office, has lost her husband to a car accident. She’s a former history professor who now spends her time writing about love. Her sister, Nan, believes she’s working too hard and hiding from life. Nan is her matchmaker in residence. And just for the record, she’s not good at it.

Kennedy King Cooper is a history professor at the University of Northern Ohio (UNO). His most recent girlfriend, Rain, dumped him for an older man with a motorcycle. Yeah, she said it was research for her dissertation in sociology. He doesn’t believe it. Kenn is also a literature snob. He knows in his heart of hearts that romance novels are trash. Don’t even get him started on what type of person would stoop so low to write them.

Blake Teesdale and Alex Zurich are the fictional characters who jump out of the pages of their story to help JJ find the love of her life. (Too bad it’s Kenn.) Blake is a voracious reader and usually can be found with a book. As much as he tries to be helpful, sometimes he mucks things up. But his heart is always in the right place. Alex is the quintessential romance heroine. She sees the world through the eyes of someone who has lived their life in a romance novel. And all she wants is for JJ to write her own happily ever after.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

What I loved about writing this book was getting to know my characters. I love each and every one of them. They were so much fun to spend time with. To be honest, sometimes I wasn’t sure what Blake would do or say in some of the scenes, so that made for some interesting writing sessions. I was also a little sad for Alex, because while she wanted to help her creator, JJ, she also missed her home very much. I don’t think Blake realized that at first. The lengths he goes through to return to the pages of their book are sincere, if misguided. And yes, I loved writing them.

How did you come up with the title of the book?

This story was published in a slightly different form some 10 years ago with the title Out of Character. When I edited and updated it (everyone had old flip phones) I searched for a title that indicated the story was a romance. Since it was about a romance author, I wanted some writing term in the title too.

What author doesn’t go through rewrites? And since she was unsure about loving again after the death of her husband, Rewrites of the Heart seemed perfect.

Who designed your book covers?

Kristian Norris, a cover artist for The Wild Rose Press, created the amazing cover for Rewrites of the Heart. She also created the covers for Heartquake, my shifter romance, and for my July 3 release The Wizard of her Heart, my paranormal romantic comedy.

About Author Terry Newman

Two things you should know about me: I have an offbeat sense of humor and characters are constantly talking to me, trying to get me to tell their stories. Other than that, I’m a normal person.

I’ve spent most of my adult life writing in some fashion, from small-town reporter, to editor-in-chief and ghostwriter for a national natural health publishing firm. The last decade and a half I’ve worked as a freelance writer, penning ebooks that range from starting a doula services business to Native American herbs.

I’ve finally took the plunge to fiction after pushing oh, so many doubts aside. My first novel with The Wild Rose Press, Heartquake, won a 4.5 crowned heart review with Ind’tale Magazine.

All my books are set in fictional towns in northeast Ohio, where I grew up, and I write about things I love—like coffee.

I have a daughter, a son-in-law, and a grandpuppy and live in North Lima, a real town in northeast Ohio with all my characters. Yes, it does get crowded.

About the Book

Rewrites of the Heart by Terry Newman

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy

Synopsis

JJ Spritely, romance author, writes characters that jump off the page. Figuratively, that is. She never expects them to make a literal leap smack dab into her world. But Alex Zurich and Blake Teesdale do just that. And they’re on a mission to help JJ write her own personal love story with a man she recently met, Kennedy King Cooper.

A history professor, Cooper doesn’t see the value of romance novels and he has even less regard for those who write them. Until he meets a woman who haunts his thoughts.

There’s only one small snag in Alex’s and Blake’s plan…okay…two rather large snags. JJ wants nothing to do with Cooper. The other snag? Alex and Blake aren’t able to return to the pages of their own book.

Will JJ and Cooper write their own love story? And will Alex and Blake find their way back to their own world?

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